AJ Dybantsa left even the opposing head coach in awe during Thursday’s NCAA Tournament game.
Dybantsa and No. 6 seed BYU Cougars lost in the Round of 64 to the No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns on Thursday. It was through no fault of Dybantsa though as he finished with a monstrous 35 points and 10 rebounds during the contest (as the Cougars eventually lost by a 79-71 final score at Moda Center in Portland, Ore.).
The freshman sensation Dybantsa was already off to a blazing start in the first half. In the middle of the frame, TNT’s Jared Greenberg interviewed Texas head coach Sean Miller on the sideline and asked how the Longhorns could slow down Dybantsa, who was already up to 14 points by then.
“I don’t think we can,” Miller bluntly replied.
"Dybantsa's already got 14, what are you asking your team to try and do to slow him down?" – @JaredSGreenberg
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 20, 2026
"I don't think we can." – Texas HC Sean Miller pic.twitter.com/VBS1fufJA6
Miller was right with that assessment as Dybantsa went on score 21 more points from there. He showed off just about everything in his offensive arsenal, shooting 11/25 from the field, hitting all 12 of his free throws, and even busting out some filthy dunks in the halfcourt.
AJ UP AND UNDER#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/nh5eyhm7AI
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026
Texas did find success though with stopping everybody else on BYU but Dybantsa (as only Cougars guard Robert Wright III also made it into double figures with 14 points). Now all eyes will be on where the 19-year-old forward phenom Dybantsa goes in this year’s NBA Draft, unless of course Dybantsa himself has some other plans.
